Decline of Western Hegemony and Rise of Multipolarity
International Relations
- PYQs6
- Articles1
Background
Understanding the evolving global power structure is fundamental for India's foreign policy, strategic autonomy, economic partnerships, and its role in a changing international order. It impacts India's security calculations and its engagement with multilateral institutions.
The post-Cold War era, marked by the unipolar dominance of the United States, is increasingly giving way to a multipolar world order. This shift is characterized by the rise of new economic and military powers, challenging established hegemonies and leading to a re-evaluation of international alliances and global governance structures.
Facts & tables
- Historical Dominance
- Post-1945, the US and Western Europe dominated world affairs due to military, technological, and financial strength.
- Emerging Challenges
- The rise of China and 'middle powers' has begun to challenge the US's superpower image.
- Symbolic Setback
- The Iran-US deal is portrayed as a significant setback to the US's image, demonstrating a perceived 'lack of staying power'.
- Global Implications
- The implications of a superpower conceding ground to a lesser power are seen as significant for nations globally.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Geopolitics & International Conflicts |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Statement-based questions
Prelims angle: Factual recall
- Shift from unipolar (US) to multipolar world order.
- Drivers: Economic rise of China, assertiveness of middle powers.
- Impact: Challenges to US hegemony, re-evaluation of alliances.
- Consequences: Potential for new regional security architectures.
- India's role: Navigating a complex, evolving global landscape.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2024 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2024 | Factual recall, Conceptual understanding |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2015 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2015 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
Timeline
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Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Conceptual area
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Prelims 2015
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
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Prelims 2015
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
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Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2024
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
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Prelims 2024
Factual recall, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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The Iran conundrum and the decline of the West
The article highlights the waning influence of the US and the West, exemplified by the Iran deal, signaling a shift towards a more multipolar world where emerging powers challenge traditional hegemonies.
See also
Past papers
2015–2025 · 5 questions
In the news
The Iran conundrum and the decline of the West
The article highlights the waning influence of the US and the West, exemplified by the Iran deal, signaling a shift towards a more multipolar world where emerging powers challenge traditional hegemonies.
Try these PYQs
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its people from fleeing/emigrating to other countries.
Statement-II: Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Statement-I: Incorrect. Venezuela continues to suffer from a severe economic crisis marked by hyperinflation, shortages of basic goods, and political instability. This crisis has led to a massive exodus of Venezuelans seeking better living conditions in neighboring countries and beyond. Statement-II: Correct. Venezuela indeed possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, surpassing even Saudi Arabia. However, despite this vast resource wealth, economic mismanagement, corruption, and international sanctions have crippled its oil industry and hindered its ability to leverage this asset for economic recovery.
The longest border between any two countries in the world is between :
The border between Canada and the United States is the longest international border in the world, stretching approximately 8,891 kilometers (5,525 miles), including the border shared with Alaska. It is a peaceful boundary and includes both land and water segments. Chile and Argentina: * Length: Approx. 5,308 kilometres * This is the third-longest international border in the world and the longest in South America. * It follows the Andes mountain range for most of its length, with several high-altitude border crossings. China and India: * Length: Approx. 3,488 kilometers
* It is highly disputed in areas such as Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh, leading to occasional tensions between the two nations. Kazakhstan and Russian Federation: * Length: Approx. 7,644 kilometers * This is the second-longest international border in the world. * It is largely flat, passing through vast steppes, and is a vital region for trade and natural resources between the two countries.
In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants?
1. Bangladesh
2. Cambodia
3. China
4. Myanmar
5. Thailand
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
All 6 participants of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation are member countries bordering the basins of the Mekong and Ganga rivers, aiming to collaborate on various initiatives. These countries are: - India - Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Thailand - Vietnam Hence, China & Bangladesh are not part of the Mekong-Ganga Corporation.
Consider the following countries -
1. China
2. France
3. India
4. Israel
5. Pakistan
Which among the above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?
The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) recognizes five states as nuclear-weapon states:
- The United States, - Russia, - The United Kingdom, - France,
- China (also the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council). Four other states are known or believed to possess nuclear weapons India, Pakistan and North Korea have openly tested and declared that they possess nuclear weapons, while Israel has had a policy of opacity regarding its nuclear weapons program.
Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS:
I. 16th BRICS Summit was held under the Chairship of Russia in Kazan.
II. Indonesia has become a full member of BRICS.
III. The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was Strengthening Multiculturalism for Just Global Development and Security.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
✅ Statement I: Correct
*The 16th BRICS Summit was held in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024 under Russia’s chairship. Russia held the rotating presidency in 2024, and the summit took place from October 22-24 in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan.* ✅ Statement II: Correct
*Indonesia became a full member of BRICS in January 2025, becoming the first Southeast Asian nation and the 10th member of the bloc.* ❌ Statement III: Incorrect
*The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit is "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security." The statement used "Multiculturalism" instead of "Multilateralism," making it incorrect for this question.* Therefore, only statements I and II are correct.
Show 1 more PYQs
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I: Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the 'Trade and Technology Council'
Statement-II: The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to begin technological progress and physical productivity under their control.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statement?
* Statement 1 is correct: Trade and Technology Council was launched by the the United States of America and the European Union during the EU-US Summit on 15 June 2021 in Brussels. * Statement 2 is incorrect: Trade and Technology council, the USA and EU does not aim to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control. Rather the initiative intends to promote pooling of digital resources such as AI models and computing power, and make them available to partner countries to address challenges in areas such as climate change and extreme weather, healthcare or smart agriculture.